Overview

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, since its first appearance in 1957, has established itself as the indispensable one-volume reference work on all aspects of the Christian Church. This Revised Edition, published in 2005, builds on the unrivaled reputation of the previous editions. Revised and updated, it reflects changes in academic opinion and Church organization.

Has no peer as a one-volume encyclopedia.—The Review and Expositor

There is increased coverage of the Eastern Churches, certain issues in moral theology, and developments stemming from the Second Vatican Council. Numerous new entries have been added and the extensive bibliographies have been brought up to date. Readers are provided with over 6,000 authoritative cross-referenced A-Z entries covering all aspects of the subject, including:

Theology - the development of doctrines in different Churches; heretical movements and spirituality and their exponents; history of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation; discoveries of Nag Hammadi and their significance for Gnosticism.

Patristic scholarship - Fathers of the Church on whose work later theology is founded are covered in detail, for example, the problems of Macarius of Egypt and Macarius/Simeon are elucidated; the recently discovered Sermons of St Augustine are listed.

Churches and denominations - the beliefs and structures of both the mainstream and the lesser known denominations, such as Lutherans, Shakers, Amish, Muggletonians, and Wee Frees; lengthy articles on the history of Christianity throughout the world, in countries such as Ireland, Spain, Poland, Canada, New Zealand, Angola, Zaire, the Philippines.

The Church calendar and organisation - feast and saints' days; Sacraments; church services, offices, rites, and practices; canon law including Catholic revision; councils and synods; religious orders.

Biographical entries - these are wide-ranging and include saints, popes, patriarchs, and archbishops; mystics, heretics, and reformers; theologians and philosophers with a summary of their opinions; artists, poets, and musicians whose work has been influenced by Christianity.

New entries - Arator; Liberation Theology; Ludwig Wittgenstein; ordination of women; Christian attitudes to Jews; Christianity in Vietnam; The Quest of the Historical Jesus; the ethics of contraception, procreation, and abortion.

Key Features

Revised and updated - the unrivaled reference on all aspects of the Christian Church

Over 6,000 entries from more than 480 of the very best scholars in the field

Praise for the Print Edition

Remains unrivaled as the authoritative one-volume dictionary of the Christian church, its doctrines and practices, and its most influential historical figures…

—Library Journal

This is the authoritative standard reference book on the Christian Church and the publishers are justified in claiming that it "has established itself as the indispensable one-volume reference work on all aspects of the Christian Church".

—Martin Manser, Christianity

One of the great strengths of the dictionary from the first edition to the third has been inclusion of excellent multi-lingual bibliographies attached to most of the entries. There is no doubt that the third edition of this classic work will take its place among the most valuable reference works on the Christian faith.

About the Editors

E. A. Livingstone was involved in the first edition and assumed the editorship of the second on the death of F.L. Cross. She has been responsible for the organization of the International Conferences on Patristic Studies from 1971 to 1995 and has edited the proceedings.

The late F.L. Cross was the Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford from 1944 to 1968.